Cops: Man shined laser at Seminole County deputy helicopter

Usman Tufail charged with pointing laser light at pilot

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Deputies arrested a Winter Park man who they say was shining a laser light at one of the Seminole County sheriff's office helicopters Thursday night.

Usman Tufail, 24, was charged with pointing a laser light at a pilot, culpable negligence, and resisting an officer without violence.

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According to the deputy report, Tufail shined a green laser light through the cockpit just after 10 p.m. Thursday eight times as the helicopter was flying around Hall Road and State Road 426.

The helicopter pilot was able to find where the light was coming from and deputies found Tufail at a home on Grove Avenue. Tufail told deputies it was a mistake and he was trying to see how far the laser light would shine. He was taken to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.

The FBI and FAA were also notified of the incident.  The FAA has the ability to impose civil penalties for pointing a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft.


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